extract from the prelude William wordsworth

context

basic meaning

analysis of form

analyse of structure

analyse of language

most famous poet in the history of English literature

spent most time with grandparents father wasn't around much

started writing poetry w hen he became a orthan

stop writing poetry after his 3rd child died

the prelude follows the journey of a boy into a man taken from book 1 childhood and schooltime

the boy steels a boat and rows on a lake

romantic poets believed that the power of god could be seen everywhere around us

in the distance boy sees a mountain which haunts him for days god /the future can be terrifying conflict with in the poem

using this style creates a sense of importance in regards to the experience similar to shakespears use of bank verse.

first person style allows reader to engage with the speakers experiences using I helps to create a sense of isolation

epic poem instead of focusing on heroism wordsworth alters it to focused on personal experience we can all be heros

isolated time trying to become a man after his dad died no role modle

employes blank verses non rhyming scheme use of iambic pentameter

no stanzas in this poem this suggest that the boys journey is a continued one

"elfin" creates a impression of 'other worldliness 'the journey seems somehow supernatural and almost above the moral world

the personification of nature 'strode after me'

referng to nature creates a positive tone highling the positive views of the natural world nature is something special

'stealth' and 'stole' demonstrates that the boy is doing something he knows is wrong which leads to guilt he later feels